Geography – Master of Arts

Take your study of geography to a higher level with Massey’s Master of Arts (Geography). You can build on your undergraduate interest in geography and develop your critical research skills.

Where you can study

Distance and online
Manawatū campus (Palmerston North)

International students

International students are not New Zealand citizens or residents.

Definition of New Zealand citizens and residents

Open to international students on campus in New Zealand, or studying online outside New Zealand

Specialise in Geography for your Master of Arts at Massey

A Master of Arts (Geography) prepares you to be a thoughtful and knowledgeable local and global citizen. You’ll develop important career skills in research, spatial analysis and evidence-based examination of the pressing issues facing New Zealand and the world today.

Learn from a range of teaching methods

This diploma will allow you to investigate topics such as:

  • urbanisation
  • state restructuring
  • globalisation
  • geopolitics
  • agrifood
  • resource management
  • consumption.

Your courses will help you gain a global perspective drawing from international case studies and examples, while maintaining a particular focus on New Zealand’s place in a changing world.

Complete your MA in three semesters

Massey’s Master of Arts is 180 credits. This means you can complete an MA in three semesters of full-time study. If you study part-time, an MA will normally take three years to complete.

A Master of Arts in Geography is a good fit if you:

  • have a relevant undergraduate degree
  • wish to develop your undergraduate interests in geography
  • want to investigate a particular aspect of geography for a thesis or research report.

Planning information

If you study full-time, you’ll take 120 credits per year or 60 credits per semester.

Not all courses are available in every semester.

The Master of Arts (Geography) is a parts-based qualification. That means you must complete the first part, before moving to the second. Read the regulations for this qualification to find out more.

Grades achieved in the first 60 credits will determine eligibility for progression to Part Two.

  • For the coursework pathway a minimum B grade average is required.
  • For the research pathway a minimum B+ grade average is required.

If you enrol in a thesis, you commence with Thesis (90 or 120 credits) Part 1, followed by Thesis (90 or 120 credits) Part 2 in the next enrolment period. Both parts combine to meet the thesis requirements with a single grade assigned to each part.

If the thesis cannot be submitted at the end of the initial Thesis (90 or 120 credits) Part 2 enrolment, you must re-enrol in Thesis (90 or 120 credits) Part 2 and pay fees each semester until submission is made.

 

Official regulations

To understand what you need to study and must complete to graduate read the official rules and regulations for this qualification.

You should read these together with all other relevant Statutes and Regulations of the University including the General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas, and Postgraduate Certificates.

Returning students

For returning students, there may be changes to the majors and minors available and the courses you need to take. Go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.

In some cases the qualification or specialisation you enrolled in may no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these qualifications go to the Massey University Calendar.

Please contact us through the Get advice button on this page if you have any questions.

Courses you can enrol in

Course planning key

Prerequisites
Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level. For example, a lot of 200-level courses have 100-level prerequisite courses.
Corequisites
Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course are known as corequisite courses.
Restrictions
Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar. This means you can only choose one of the offered courses to study and credit to your qualification.

Part One: Coursework Pathway (120 credits) or Research Pathway (Between 60 and 90 credits)

Course code: 145707 Economic Geography 30 credits

Several themes are examined in relation to the geography of advanced capitalism at global, national and intra-urban scales. Within this broad framework students are encouraged to develop personalised courses of study which reflect their individual interests.

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Course code: 145710 Consumption and Place 30 credits

This course explores consumption processes, practices and places. Using a number of themes it encourages students to engage with relationships between production and consumption, cultural and economic change, and matters of identity and ethics.

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Course code: 145711 Foundations in Human Geography 30 credits

An advanced exploration of the history of geographical thought, critically assessing key debates that have shaped the field and examining geographical theory and methodology.

Restrictions: 145706

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Course code: 145712 Frontiers in Human Geography 30 credits

An advanced examination and exploration of contemporary issues and debates in human geography.

Restrictions: 145701

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Course code: 145739 GIS Principles and Applications 30 credits

A conceptual and operational understanding of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). This course provides a postgraduate-level introduction to fundamentals of spatial data creation, manipulation, management, visualisation and analysis.

Restrictions: 132738

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Course code: 145740 GIS Programming and Practice 30 credits

This course focuses on principles and practices of programming within the GIS context. Issues in GIS project design and implementation are addressed.

Prerequisites: 132738 or 145739 Restrictions: 132740

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Course code: 145799 Research Report (30) 30 credits

Part Two: Coursework Pathway

Choose 60 credits from
Course code: 145873 Research Report Geography (60) 60 credits

Part Two: Research Pathway

Choose between 90 and 120 credits from
Course code: 145881 Thesis 90 Credit Part 1 45 credits

A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.

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Course code: 145882 Thesis 90 Credit Part 2 45 credits

A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.

Corequisites: 145881

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Course code: 145883 Thesis 90 credits

A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work

View full course details
Course code: 145897 Thesis 120 Credit Part 1 60 credits

A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.

View full course details
Course code: 145898 Thesis 120 Credit Part 2 60 credits

A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.

Corequisites: 145897

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Course code: 145899 Thesis 120 credits

A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.

View full course details

Entry requirements

Admission to Massey

All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.

Specific requirements

To enter the Master of Arts (Geography) you will have been awarded or qualified for:

  • a Bachelor of Arts degree (or equivalent) with a major in the intended postgraduate subject, with at least a B grade average across the 200/300 level major courses

  • a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) with a subject in the intended postgraduate subject or a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts with an endorsement in the intended postgraduate subject, or an equivalent qualification, with at least a B+ grade average across the 700-level courses for entry to the Research Pathway or a B grade average across the 700-level courses for entry to the Coursework Pathway.

If you have a BA (Hons) or PGDipArts from Massey University in the intended Master of Arts subject as outlined above, you may apply for credit towards Part One of the qualification.

You will need to provide copies of all official academic transcripts for studies taken at all universities other than Massey University.

English language requirements

To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards.

English language skills

If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, see our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses.

Fees and scholarships

Fees, student loans and free fees scheme

Your tuition fees may be different depending on the courses you choose. Your exact fees will show once you have chosen your courses.

There will also be some compulsory non-tuition fees and for some courses, there may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.

Already know which courses you're going to choose?

You can view fees for the courses that make up your qualification on the course details pages.

Student loans (StudyLink) and Fees Free scheme

You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.

The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students. Find out more about the scheme and your eligibility on the Fees Free website. To use the site's eligibility checking tool, you will need your National Student Number.

Current and returning Massey students can find their National Student Number in the student portal.

Fees disclaimer

This information is for estimation purposes only. Actual fees payable will be finalised on confirmation of enrolment. Unless otherwise stated, all fees shown are quoted in New Zealand dollars and include Goods and Services Tax, if any. Before relying on any information on these pages you should also read the University's Disclaimer Notice.

Careers and job opportunities

With an MA (Geography) you can choose from a wide range of careers including:

  • conservation and environmental research
  • energy development
  • resource management
  • forestry
  • public service
  • international development and diplomacy
  • local and regional councils
  • business and market research
  • teaching
  • tourism.

International students

New Zealand is a great place to study. Massey University’s reputation is supported by our international rankings, accreditations and associations. We are rated five star plus by the QS World University Rankings.

Massey University has small class sizes, and our lecturers and staff are friendly and approachable.

As an international student, there are entry requirements that will apply to you. We recommend that you apply at least three months before your anticipated start date so your application can be processed in time. There are additional steps you will need to take. These include obtaining a visa and travel bookings if your study is to be in New Zealand.

Accreditations and rankings

QS Ranking - Geography

Massey is ranked in the world's top 150 universities for geography in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings.

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